BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia declined to comment on the 11th national election, which her party claims to be marred by large-scale rigging.
“I have nothing say about it,” is what she said responding to a query from the media on Thursday (Jan 3) after the hearing in the Niko graft case at the makeshift courtroom set up inside the old jailhouse in Dhaka.
The Awami League is about to form a government for an unprecedented third straight term after winning the election on Dec 30. It won 259 of 299 seats while the Grand Alliance it leads won 288 seats.
The BNP, which had boycotted the last general election in 2014 saying it would not be fair, won just five seats while its ally Gano Forum won two seats.
Khaleda appeared before the special judge court around 12pm. When newly-appointed Judge Sheikh Hafizur Rahman of Dhaka Special Judge Court-9 arrived, the BNP chief complained about the inadequate sitting arrangement.
The judge ordered providing enough chairs for everyone and said he would talk to the authorities to take necessary steps.
Several moments later, the former prime minister warned that she would not appear before the court “if this situation continues.”
The court fixed Jan 13 for the hearing of indictment.
In the charges levelled by the Anti-Corruption Commission, the former PM Khaleda and four others stand accused of causing the state a loss of Tk 138 billion by awarding gas exploration deals to Canada-based Niko Resources Ltd.
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